The Hindu : Bush announces steps to build strategic ties with India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

Bush announces steps to build strategic ties with India

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, JAN. 13. The United States President, George W. Bush, has announced the next steps in the strategic partnership with India which will see the two countries stepping up cooperation in the realm of non-military nuclear activities, civilian space programmes, trade in high technology along with an expanded dialogue on missile defence.

"Cooperation in these areas will deepen the ties of commerce and friendship between our two nations and will increase stability in Asia and beyond," Mr. Bush said in a statement issued from Monterrey, Mexico, where he is attending the Summit of the Americas.

Mr. Bush said the proposed cooperation would progress through a series of reciprocal steps that would "build" on each other.

"It will include expanded engagement on nuclear regulatory and safety issues and missile defence, ways to enhance cooperation in peaceful uses of space technology, and steps to create the appropriate environment for successful high-tech commerce."

"In order to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, relevant laws, regulations and procedures will be strengthened and measures to increase bilateral and international cooperation in this area will be employed.

These cooperative efforts will be undertaken in accordance with our respective national laws and international obligations," Mr. Bush said.

He said that this latest expanded cooperation "is an important milestone" in transforming the relationship between India and the United States.

"That relationship is based increasingly on common values and common interests. We are working together to promote global peace and prosperity. We are partners in the war on terrorism and we are partners in controlling the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them," he said.

"The vision of U.S.-India strategic partnership that Prime Minister Vajpayee and I share is now becoming a reality," Mr. Bush said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section

Centre invites Hurriyat for talks on January 22

Bush announces steps to build strategic ties with India

Sangma prefers NDA to Congress

We are ready, says Ansari

One killed in stampede

'Pakistan may buy diesel from India'

Plane crash